Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make the announcement during his visit to Port Blair on 30 December.

30 December 2018 marks the 75th anniversary of Netaji's visit to the islands.

Note:

After the Japanese captured the Andaman Island during the time of the Second World War, Netaji had hoisted the flag at Port Blair on December 30, 1943.

This was because he believed that Port Blair was the first territory to be freed from British rule.

Bose had reportedly suggested back then that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands be renamed as Shahid and Swaraj Dweep.

Source: First post

3. India’s largest cancer institute in Haryana’s Jhajjar to open in January 2019

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that the largest cancer hospital in India, the National Cancer Institute in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, would be opened to public by the third week of January.

The institute, being considered as a landmark in the field of cancer research in the country, shall lessen the deficit of tertiary cancer care in the northern region.

The institute will have 710 beds, out of which 200 beds will be dedicated for translational research on India-specific cancers.

The National Cancer Institute would operate under AIIMS.

Source: The Hindu Business line

4. Bhutanese PM to begin 3-day India visit today

Prime Minister of Bhutan Dr. Lotay Tshering will arrive today in New Delhi on a three-day official visit to India.

The visit of the Bhutanese Prime Minister is taking place during the Golden jubilee year of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Vijay K Gokhale will call on the visiting dignitary on Thursday.

During his visit, Bhutanese PM will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Source: DD News

5. India Takes Over Iran's Strategic Chabahar Port

Indian firm India Ports Global Limited took over the operations of the Shaheed Behesti Port at Chabahar on the southeastern coast of Iran, being jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan.

The company opened its office following the first meeting of the follow-up committee for implementation of the trilateral Chabahar Agreement between India, Afghanistan and Iran.

"It was agreed to allow cargo movement at Chabahar using TIR Convention provisions."

The Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) is a multilateral treaty aimed at simplifying and harmonising the administrative formalities of international road transport.

According to the ministry statement, during meeting, it was decided to hold an event to promote and popularise the potential of Chabahar on February 26, 2019.

Note:

India is investing $500 million to develop the Chabahar port and a road link from there to Afghanistan to give access to that country, bypassing Pakistan.

The port is also a key link in the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-km-long multi-modal network of ship, rail and road routes to move freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

Source: Business standard

Sports

6. Former Australia captain Ponting inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on 26 Dec 2018.

Ponting was named in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame along with former India captain Rahul Dravid and England woman wicketkeeper-batter Claire Taylor during the ICC Annual Conference in Dublin in July.

Note:

Ponting is a three-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner including two times as captain.

He is the 25th Australia cricketer to be formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

The 44-year-old Ponting retired from international cricket in 2012 after scoring 13,378 runs in 168 Tests.

He scored 41 centuries, 13,704 runs in 375 ODIs with 30 centuries and 401 runs in 17 T20s with two half-centuries.

Ponting was named the ICC Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007 while also being named the ICC Test Player of the Year in 2006.

Source: DD News

7. CA Kuttappa takes over as India's chief boxing coach

Dronacharya awardee C A Kuttappa has taken over as India's chief boxing coach.

The 39-year-old Kuttappa is credited with shaping some of the country's most successful boxers such as Vijender Singh, M Suranjoy Singh and Shiva Thapa, among others.

He replaced veteran coach SR Singh.

Source: DD News

Banking & Financial Awareness

8. RBI launches survey to capture retail payment habits in 6 cities

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will capture payment habits of individuals in six cities, including four metropolitan towns.

For the purpose, the central bank has launched a ‘Survey on Retail Payment Habits of Individuals (SRPHi)’.

The survey will cover a sample of 6,000 individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds across six cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Guwahati.

“The survey seeks qualitative responses from individuals on their payment habits,” it said.

The findings may provide some idea about awareness and usage habits of digital payment products, it added.

The central bank further said Sigma Research & Consulting Pvt Ltd has been engaged to conduct the fieldwork of the survey on behalf of the RBI.

Source: DD News

9. Bimal Jalan to head expert panel on Economic Capital Framework

The Reserve Bank of India has formed an expert committee under former governor Bimal Jalan to decide the appropriate level of reserves that the regulator should hold.

Science & Defense

China has successfully tested the advanced S-400 air defence system imported from Russia for which India also signed-up recently despite concerns over threat of sanctions from the US.

S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.

China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system.

Note:

India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy the same system in October this year despite concerns over threat of sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia .

India wants the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the 3488 km-long Sino-India border.